Press Releases

Fashola Advocates National Gender Index Database
• As Tinubu, other dignitaries honour Prof. Akande at First Memorial Lecture

Apr 29, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Wednesday advocated the establishment of a National Gender Index Database as a strategy to evolve appropriate response to redress gender inequality in the country.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the University of Lagos Auditorium as Guest Lecturer at the First Year Memorial Lecture in honour of Professor Jadesola Akande, the first female Nigerian Professor of Law in West Africa and second female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria, said the database would provide accurate information about the scale and size of existing gender inequality in all spheres of life in the country.

The Governor, who spoke on the topic “Strategic Plan of Action Towards Gender Equality in Politics and Governance”, argued, “Without a comprehensive data detailing the rate of gender inequality in all spheres of life, the task of evolving appropriate response strategy to redress gender inequality may be difficult and perhaps impossible to achieve”.

Governor Fashola, who noted that the information generated from such a database would be useful in understanding the problem at hand, declared, “The Gender Database will also assist in monitoring programmes and policies designed to attain gender equilibrium”, adding, however, that gender equality in politics and governance was impossible without gender equality in educational opportunities.

Drawing comparisons between Europe and Africa in terms of gender equality, Governor Fashola regretted that while many countries of Europe and America rank high in gender equality, African countries bring up the rear in this aspect.

He declared, “It is most intriguing to also note that in countries such as Nigeria and Cameroun and indeed most African countries where poverty and development continues to be a big challenge performed poorly on the Gender Index rankings”, adding that this is a pointer to the fact that countries where gender opportunities have been given to women to participate in politics, economy, business and governance have witnessed more successes in social and economic development because of the invaluable contribution of women.

Governor Fashola recommended the Canadian approach to Affirmative Action, a body of policies and procedures designed to eliminate discrimination against marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities, women and other disadvantaged groups to redress the problem, saying such policy, aside from redressing gender inequality, would also ensure that a significant segment of the society is not excluded from participating in governance.

“Secondly, Affirmative Action has the added advantage of maximizing the benefits of diversity at the decision-making levels. Women, who constitute a significant segment of the society, it is argued, should be part of the process of making important decisions that would affect their lives”, the Governor said.

He said the advantage of this approach is that the legislation implementing Affirmative Action programmes can easily be amended and adjusted to meet changing social realities unlike a constitution which has complex procedures for amendments.

Making reference to section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Governor regretted however that the Nigerian Constitution does not explicitly permit Affirmative Action in other spheres of life apart from appointment.

To redress this, the Governor contended, “I therefore recommend the Canadian approach which explicitly and clearly guarantees the legal status of Affirmative Action”, adding that the provision of section 15 of the Canadian Constitution is similar to section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution although the Canadian version is clearly and more specific in its provisions for Affirmative Action.

Governor Fashola called for the participation of more women in politics, noting that a body of research has revealed that an increase in the participation of women in politics and economy will lead to stronger economies, more responsive civil society, healthier communities and greater world peace and stability.

“Although there is no law barring women from contesting political position and from being appointed into political offices, socio-cultural, religious and traditional beliefs and practices have assigned the women a “second class” status”, the Governor lamented adding, “a girl child rose up to believe that there are certain roles in the society that are reserved for women and some for men”.

The Governor recommended Advocacy and Education as important aspects in the attainment of gender equality, adding, “The social order of our federation is by self declaration in section 17 of the constitution based on freedom, equality and justice. However, there are long standing and deeply rooted practices and beliefs which have subjugated women and consigned them to play second-fiddle role”.

Pointing out some of the anomalies in the Constitution which further restricts the rights of women, Governor Fashola declared, “May I therefore, use this medium to call on the Constitution Review Committee and Members of the National Assembly to utilize the rare opportunity afforded to remedy this inequality”.

The Governor commended the Late Professor Jadesola Akande, the first female Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University for her role in the emancipation of the women folk both in Nigeria and internationally.

He described the late Professor as a social critic and a human rights activist to the core adding, “In 2005, she led a group of women to publicly protest the seeming official ineptitude that led to a plane crash which resulted in the death of many Nigerians including 50 school children”.

“During the protest march, the police alleged that no procession permit has been granted to the organizers. Tear gas and force was used to attempt to stop the procession. Professor Akande and her colleagues remained stoically undaunted in demonstrating a mother’s anguish and a nation’s loss”, Governor said.

Commending the Akande family and others who in one way or the other contributed to the successful organization of the First Year Memorial Lecture for the late erudite scholar, Governor Fashola declared: “As we cerebrate her legacy, commitment to the cause of human rights and contributions to national development and gender equality, we should continually remind ourselves that great nations are built by contributions of her citizens. We should invest our efforts and resources like the late legal icon to make this nation a better place for all”.

The Governor who later lent support to a book which is a compilation of papers in honour of Professor Jadesola Akande declared; ”Her passion for academic pursuit and intellectual enterprise resulted in a significant contribution to knowledge in the area of Constitutional Law and Development in Nigeria. This work demonstrate the depth of her analysis of Constitutional provisions and principles drawing comparative insights from other jurisdictions and retaining the domestic flavour of the provision”, the Governor said.

In his remarks, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commended the late Professor Jadesola Akande for her readiness to respond at all times to the call of the voiceless while alive.

He recalled that 12 hours before her death, Professor Akande was discussing the affairs of women with him and other government functionaries lamenting that the following day her death was announced.

Making reference to the refusal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo, to subvert the election under her watch, Asiwaju Tinubu said this was the stuff of which people like late Professor Akande was made of, adding, “Jade Akande would celebrate this. It is the kind of thing that would have brought her to the streets to protest. I will always remember her with greatness for she was a great woman”.

Others who paid tribute to the memory of the late Professor included the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Mr. Olasupo Sasore (SAN), Justice Karibi Whyte who was the Chairman of the occasion, the State Chief Judge, Justice Ade Alabi, the Dean of Faculty of Law University of Lagos, as well as many other former colleagues of the late Professor Akande.

Also present at the occasion were the wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Tolu Odubela, Vice Chancellor Lagos State University Professor Abdul Lateef Hussian, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as well as other members of the State Executive Council and members of the academic community.